Undergraduate Explorations in Astrobiology -- A Course-Based Research Anthology

This volume is an edited anthology of research papers produced by undergraduate students as part of a semester-long course in astrobiology at Syracuse University. The collection explores foundational and emerging topics related to the origin, persistence, and detectability of life beyond Earth, integrating perspectives from physics, astronomy, planetary science, biology, and engineering. Topics include biological responses to spaceflight, antimicrobial resistance in microgravity, planetary habitability over deep time, sustainability of life-support systems, plant cultivation in space environments, galactic evolution, and mission-driven strategies for detecting biosignatures within the Solar System. Collectively, these studies demonstrate how inquiry-based undergraduate research can contribute meaningfully to mission-focused astrobiology and the broader scientific effort to assess the prevalence of life in the universe.